Sommerfeld Fine-Structure Formula for Two-Body Atoms
Abstract
For relativistic atomic two-body systems such as the hydrogen atom, positronium, and muon-proton bound states, a two-body generalisation of the single-particle Sommerfeld fine-structure formula for the relativistic bound-state energies is found. The two-body Sommerfeld bound-state energy formula is obtained from a two-body wave equation which is physically correct to order . The two-body Sommerfeld formula makes two predictions in order for every bound state and every mass ratio. With the Bohr quantum number: (a) The coefficient of the energy term has a specified value which depends only on the masses of the bound particles, not on angular quantum numbers; (b) The coefficient of the energy term is a specified multiple of the {\em square} of the coefficient of the energy term. Both these predictions are verified in positronium by previous calculations to order which used second-order perturbation theory. They are also correct in the Coulomb-Dirac limit. The effect of the two-body Sommerfeld formula on calculations of muon-proton bound-state energies is examined.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1206.5408,
title = {Sommerfeld Fine-Structure Formula for Two-Body Atoms},
author = {John H. Connell},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1206.5408},
year = {2013}
}
Comments
Version 2: More discussion. 6 pages